Vertical extrusion machine



y 1953 E. G. BENNETT ETAL Q ,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet l Inventors y 1953 E. G. BENNETT ETAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1953 E. G. BENNETT ETAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 July 21, 1953 E. G. BENNETT ETAL 2,645,835

' VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 l I I Inventors y 1953 E. G. BENNETT ETAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventors H gcme zzm .5

2 Agent.

y 1953 E. G. BENNETT ErAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Inventors July 21, 1953 E. s. BENNETT EIAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 l Inventors J ly 1953 E. G. BENNETT ET AL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 I nventofi July 21, 1953 E. G.-BENNETT ETAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 i I Inv a rs July 21, 1953 E. G. BENNETT ETAL VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 ly 1953 :E. e. BENNETT ETAL 2,645,835

VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 ii Agent.

Patented July 2 1, 1953 VERTICAL EXTRUSION MACHI-NE Edgar Garford Bennett, Woodville, and'Charles Leslie Willis, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England Application March 25, 1949, Serial No. 83,446 In Great Britain August 22, 1947 Another object is to release the work-table automatically after having locked it while extrusion proceeds, and thereafter to allow the table to descend under the pressure of the material being extruded.

Another object is to stop the extrusion of the material automatically after the table has descended a suitable distance.

Another object is to provide automatically operated means for cutting ed the extruded article at the extrusion die.

Another object is to provide more easy means 10 Claims. (01. 25 11) of removing the extruded article from the worktable.

Another object is to return the table automatically after the extruded article has been removed from it.

Another object is to provide a machine in which the whole of the operations connected with the extrusion of the material and the movements of the work-table are effected mechanically.

Another object is to effect the movements referred to in the preceding paragraph automatically in a continuously recurring cycle in the correct sequence and at the appropriate timeintervals.

A constructional form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and front elevations, drawn to a smaller scale than the other views, showing the general arrangement and disposition of parts in. a vertical extrusion machine for making pipes with an enlarged socket end.

Figure 3 is a part sectional elevation of mechanical control means.

Figures 4 and 5 are opposite end views of this part of the apparatus, Figure 6 is an elevation showing especially the associated lever mechanism and Figure 7 is a plan.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation and Figure 9 a plan showing the base plate of the machine and associated parts.

Figure 10 is a sectional elevation and Figure 11 2 a plan showing the die and associated mechanism for cutting off the extruded article.

Figure 12 is a side elevation, Figure 13 a part sectional elevation, and Figure 14 a plan of the work-table of the machine and associated parts.

The machine illustrated generally in Figures 1 and 2 follows in the main known lines of a pipe machine. The pipes are extruded on to a vertically sliding Work-table I0, the table being mounted on columns II, down which it is forced bythe pressure of the material being extruded through thedie I2. The return movement of the table is made under the action of the usual counter-weights I3.

The casing of the operations control gear is shown at I00, and this mechanism is shown in Figures 3 to '7. The casing of mechanism for locking and lowering the tableis shown at IOI, and this mechanism is shown in Figures 8-9. The casing of table tilting gear is shown at I02, and this mechanism is shown in Figures 12 to 14.

As the table arrives in its top position at the I conclusion of its return movement under the action of the weights I3, itoperates a limit switch I4 which initiates an electrical delay timing device, adjustable by means of a small hand control knob not shown in the drawings, which can be set to give the required delay to form the socket of the article. The limit switch I4 also-energises through a contactor a main control solenoid I5 which by means of a bell crank lever I6 and. plunger I'I operates a cam I8 forming part of one half I9 of a dog clutch Ill, 20, spring-loaded at 2I The contactor is designed to break the solenoid circuit before the dog clutch I9, 20 has made one revolution, irrespective of the time during which the limit switch is in the on position. This ensures that the plunger [1 returns to its original position in time for the cam I8 acting against the plunger to withdraw the part I9 of the dog clutch from engagement. The cam is shaped to prevent the part I 9 from over-running beyond one complete revolution. The part 2i] is driven continuously at constant speed. This clutch I9, 20 is geared with the main mechanical control device, which is in the form of a drum 22 having a series of cam grooves 23, 24, 25, 26

revolution, the clutch causes the drum 22 to make one quarter of a revolution. This first movement of the cam drum 22 operates the table locking mechanism through the medium of a lever with roller 3I operating in the cam groove 24. The lever 39 is pivoted to a rod 32 connected to a rocking lever 33 to both ends of which a cable 34 is attached, the other ends of the cables being attached to a locking lever 35 held in position in a rotatable manner between segments 36. The table spindle 31 at the top of which the table I9 is carried has a locking key 38 passed through it near the lower end; the spindle 3'! is positioned and allowed to slide through the bearing bush 39 which has two slots 40 to allow the key to pass through. Immediately above the bush 39 a face cam 4| is fixed by means of pins 42 screwed into the base plate 43. When the height of the table is adjusted to allow the correct relation between the key and the cam 4! with the table in the top position, partial rotation of the locking lever 35 will engage the key 38, rotate the spindle 37 and cause the key to mount the face of the cam 4|, so locking the table in the top position. This first movement of the cam drum 22 also actuates the machine clatch in a similar way, by means of a lever 45 and roller engaging in the cam groove 23. The lever 45 actuates a rod 46, rocking lever 47, and cables 48, the other ends of the cables being fastened to the lever 49 which operates the main driving clutch 59 of the extrusion worm. As soon as the machine clutch 59 has been actuated extrusion commences and the closed die I2 is pressed full of material. The delay governed by the adjustable electrical timer for forming the socket having taken place (and it is very desirable that the timer shall be easily adjusted because the amount of this delay may easily vary from day to day under different working conditions, as well as due to different sizes of articles being extruded) the solenoid I5 is again energised, operating the cam drum 22 a further quarter revolution through its clutch I9, 29. This brings into action the releasing mechanism for the table by the reverse action of the cables on the locking lever 35 so that the table I 6 is thereby unlocked and begins to descend under the pressure of the material being extruded, and in doing so the first-mentioned limit switch I4 is released and the timer is de-energised. The

table continues to descend until it operates an- I5 causing the cam drum 22 tomake a further quarter revolution. Here again the electrical means is employed to break the solenoid contactor circuit in time to allow the plunger I! to return to its original position before the dog clutch I9, 20 has made one complete revolution, and to ensure that the plunger l1 returns to its original position in time for the cam I8 acting against the plunger to withdraw the part l9 of the dog clutch from engagement. This movement of the drum 22 operates the mechanism for disengaging the machine clutch 59, by which extrusion is stopped. The last phase of this part of the movement of the drum 22 also operates another limit switch, which immediately reenergises the main solenoid through contactors and electrical timing means as before, and so effects a further one quarter revolution of the cam drum 22. This brings into action the lever 55, rod 56 and rocking member 5'! controlled by the cam groove 26 to operate the cutting off device causing it to move across the material being extruded and back again to its original position. This is achieved by means of a toothed segment 58 carried by the rocking member 51, which engages with a pinion 59 keyed on a shaft 60, the shaft carrying gear wheels 6 I, 62, 63, any of which can be used to drive another shaft 64 by gear wheels one of which is seen at 65. Fixed on to the shaft 64 is a grooved cable drum 66 to which cables 61 are anchored. The cables are attached to wheeled carriers 68 running on rails 69 suitably fixed horizontally beneath the die I2. The cutting off device is in the form of a wire 10 strained across the carriages 68 on screwed hooks II fitted with tension springs 12. The position of the cutting-off device is necessarily adjustable, preferably on the machine columns I I. The last phase of this movement of the drum 22 acts to engage a lever 15 in the groove 25, which pulls the cable 16 in the direction of the arrow. The cable operates a lever 11 and yoke 18 pivoted at 19. The yoke carries rollers 89 which engage a groove 8| in the sliding member '82 of another dog clutch 82, 83, the part 83 being driven at constant speed, preferably by a motor 84 and reduction gear 85. The part 82 is fitted on the shaft 8'! on a sliding key to which also is fitted a pinion 86. Engagement of the dog clutch will therefore cause the pinion 8G to rotate. The pinion 8B is in mesh with a toothed rack either cut in or fitted to the vertical shaft 88 which is supported vertically in bearings 89, 98 fixed in the base plate 43. The shaft 86 is free to slide vertically. Above the base plate an adjustable collar 9I is fastened on the shaft 88. The table I9 is pivoted on a horizontal axis by being keyed on to a hinge in 92 to which a pinion 93 is fixed. The pinion 93 is engaged by a gear segment 94 which is free to rotate on a pin 95. Also free to rotate on the pin 95 is an arm 96 which is arranged to be contacted by the collar 9I on the shaft 88. A peg 91 is formed on the segment 94 engaging in a larger slot 93 in the arm 96. The table I0 with this associated mechanism is forced down by the action of the extrusion and the collar 9| on the shaft 88 is fixed on the shaft in such a position that when the limit switch 5! is operated to stop the extrusion, the arm 96 has just passed the collar 9| as shown in firm lines; the shaft 88 remaining in its uppermost position during this downward motion of the table. The slot 98 is cut in the arm 96 to allow the arm to pass the collar 9| without rotation of the gear segment 94. At this stage in the machine cycle'the dog clutch 82 causes the pinion to revolve as already described, and the rack on the shaft 88 draws the shaft down, causing the collar 9 I "to press on the arm 96 causing the table to move downwards further until one of the table bearing caps 99 engages with an adjustable stop (not shown) on one of the columns I I to arrest the downward movement of the table and thereby regulate the position at which the tilting movement of the table commences. The continued downward movement of the shaft 88 and collar 9I causes the pinion 93 to be rotatedby the arm 96 and segment 94. This causes the table hinge pin 92 to be rotated by the gear 93 which will cause the table It) to tilt the required amount depending upon the length of the arm 96 and the downward travel of the shaft 88. As the table moves downwards one of the table bearing caps '99'engages with'an adjustable'sto'p (not shown) on one of the columns I I to regulate the position at which the tiltaha-ea ing movement of the table commences. The

downward movement of the collar 9| causes it eventually to contact the vertical plunger I04 which operates links I05, I06 to operate the lever H and yoke '18 to disengage the dog clutch '82-, 83. This will cause the cable 16- toreturn the lever 75 to its original position in the cam groove of its counterweights l3 to the top position,

where the limit switch I 4 is contacted and the cycle of operations begins again. During the upward travel of the table ID the rod 88 will also be returned upwardly and in its top position its upper end or an abutment carried by itmay be arranged to actuate an atomiser or spray gun which injects lubricant into the die immediately before the die closes. This injection into the die is through flexible pipes and nozzles fitted into the die itself.

The machine which has been described is fully automatic, that is to say the various operations are performed in a continuously recurring cycle without manual intervention except for lifting off-the extruded articles from the work-table I at-the appropriate moments. Provision may be madeby means of a switch to cut out this fully automatic operation andenable all the operations to be initiated by pressing a button switch or the like. Thus the button switch would initiate each operation in the cycle, but the control system would ensure that the operations were per of time the button is operated or depressed. This ensures that the dog clutch l8, 19 only makes one complete revolution at each depression of the button or the like.

Although the invention has been described more particularly in connection with a pipe machine it will be understood that vertical extrusion machines are used to make other articles such as conduits, bends, hollow blocks and the like.

The electrical contactor and delay timing system has not been described, because apparatus of this nature is already used to initiate mechanical devices at pre-determined time intervals, and apparatus convenient for the purposesof this invention is therefore available commercially at the present time. It may be said that such'delay switching apparatus may consist of'a condenserresistance circuit in which the contactor is held by the charge iven to a condenser, the duration of the charge being controlled by a pre-set or adjustable resistance. One such delay-switching apparatus is known as the B. T. H. Electronic Timer.

The invention provides an extrusion machine in which the usual operation by hand-levers or the like is replaced by automatic operation. Hitherto the operation of these machines has been extremely laborious and fatiguing. Not only is the work heavy, but it has to be done quickly and there is only room for one man as a rule to work all the various controls.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vertical extrusion machine for making articles'from plasticmaterial comprising a die; a work table pivotally movable about a horizontal axis mounted for vertical sliding movement rela tive to the die, cam means operatively connected with said work table'and die to lock thetable in a raised position andfill the die with plastic material, further cam means to unlock the table wherebythe table descends under thepressure of the material being extruded, and additional cam mans to inactivate the die when the table has descended a predetermined distance to permit the extruded article to be cut off, and further cam means to move the table about its pivot to facilitateremoval of the article.

5 .2. A vertical extrusion machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further cam means actuates a cut-off device to move beneath the die to cut off the extruded article after the die has been inactivated.

with the carrier to move said carrier beneath the die whereby the wirewill cut off the extruded article after the die has been inactivated.

4. A vertical extrusion machine for making articles from plastic material comprising a die, a work table mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to the die, means for feeding plastic material to the dieQa clutch for controlling said feeding means, a rotatable drum having a plurality of cam ways therein, clutch means to impart limited rotary movement to said drum, a solenoid to actuate said clutch at predetermined time intervals, switch means operated by the table to energize and de-energize the solenoid, a lever disposed in one of said cam ways and moved by the rotation of said drum, a locking unit carried by said table, a connection between said lever and said locking unit, and a second lever movable in another of said cam ways and operatively connected with said material feeding clutch, the arrangement being such that energization of the solenoid operates the clutch means whereby the drum partially rotates, thus causing said first mentioned lever to actuate the table locking unit to lock the table and cause said second mentioned lever to actuate the material feeding means to fillthe die, thereafter the drum is again partially rotated so that the first mentioned lever releases the table locking unit to permit the descent thereof under the pressure of the material being extruded from the die, the table operating one of said switches after a predetermined descent to energize said solenoid to further turn the drum whereby said material feeding clutch is disengaged to arrest extrusion of the material from the die.

5. A'vertical extrusionmachine as claimed in claim 4 wherein a longitudinally movable cut-off member is disposed beneath said die, a further lever is movable in another of said drum cam means, means to introduce the plastic material into the extruding means, a clutch forcontrolling the operation ofithe material introducingmeans, a work table pivotally movableabout .a horizontal axis mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to the extruding means, alocking unit for locking the work table in a raisedposition, automatically operated means to actuate said locking unit to lock said table and to activate said clutch for introducing the plastic material into the extrudin means, further automatically actuated means to operate said lockingunit to unlock the table whereby the table descends under the pressure of the material being extruded, additional automatic means actuated after the table has descended a predetermined distance to inactivate the said clutch, thus arresting operation of the extruding means to permit the :extruded article to be cut 011, and further automatic means actuated after the article has been cut off to move the table aboutits pivot 'to facilitate removal of the article.

8. A vertical extrusion machine formaking. articles from plastic material comprising extruding means, a work tablerpivotally movable about a horizontal axis mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to the extruding. means, automatically actuated-means to lock the work table in a raised position and fill'the extruding means with plastic material, further automatically actuated means to release the table whereby the table descends under the pressure of the material being'extruded, additional means actuated after the table has descended a predetermined distance to arrest operation of the extruding means to permit the extruded article to be cut ofi, and additional means automatically actuated after the extruded article has been cut off to move the table about its pivot to facilitate removal of the article.

9. A vertical extrusion machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein means is provided to automatically cut off the extruded article.

.10. A vertical extrusion machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein further means is provided to automatically move the table upwardly about its pivot.

EDGAR GARFORD BENNE'I'I. CHARLES LESLIE WILLIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,558,030 Martin Oct. 20, 1925 1,651,203 Hibblns Nov. 29, 1927 1,808,964 McClintock et al. June 9, 1931 1,899,115 Schultz Feb. 28, 1933 1,925,050 Jagdmann et al Aug. 29, 1933 1,978,420 Dyer Oct. 30, 1934 2,451,713 Brown et a1 Oct. 19, 1948 2,480,442 Booth Aug. 30, 1949 

